Serial bike thieves notwithstanding, law enforcement officials say there is one simple but absolutely vital step that bike owners can take to lessen the chance of getting their bike stolen: lock it up.
Bike thefts are one of the most common crimes in the Twin Cities area, and are most often a crime of opportunity. Thieves look for bikes that unlocked and unattended; bikes left on a car rack; even bikes in unlocked garages.
There have been 72 bicycle thefts reported in Larkspur and Greenbrae so far in 2012, more than the number of auto burglaries in Larkspur, according to the Twin Cities Police. There have also been 26 reported bike thefts in Corte Madera so far this year.
Even if it is stolen, another small step could be the difference between getting your bike back and never seeing it again, according to Marin County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Barry Heying.
The Sheriff’s Office just launched a free service to register bicycle information to help identify a stolen bike. The Sheriff’s Bicycle Registry Program aims to create a database of bicycles with information such as serial numbers, make and model.
“By increasing the awareness of thefts and by providing educational pamphlets to bicycle enthusiasts, we hope that bike owners will take precautions to limit their vulnerability of becoming victims of bicycle theft,” Heying said in a statement. “As with many property crimes, the first step in prevention must be taken by the property owners themselves.”
To add your bicycle to the registry, go to the Sheriff’s Office website and click on the Resources tab. For more info, email bregistration@marinsheriff.org or call (415) 473-7303.
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